Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants in the Adjacent Area of Lake Buyan-Tamblingan, Bali.

Abstract

The forest areas around Buyan-Tamblingan Lake have a high biodiversity value. At the same time, the expansion of agricultural lands and settlement is continuing in the region. Therefore, the conservation of plants and documentation of local knowledge in the area around Buyan-Tamblingan Lake is necessary. This study aims to determine the diversity of plants used as medicine by the communities around Buyan-Tamblingan Lake and to find out what plant species are considered most important by these community groups. This study was conducted for five days on 9 – 14 March 2015. Ethnobotanical data were collected using a method of semi-structured interviews and group discussions. The purposive selection of respondents sought those considered to have the best knowledge of ethnobotany. A total of five respondents were interviewed. This study documented as many as 69 species of medicinal plants being used, belonging to 59 genera and 36 families, with the Zingiberaceae being the most widely used. The floristic region of all plant species documented included Malesiana (21.95%), India (18.90%), Indochina (16.46), and East Asia (9.15). Leaves were the part of plants most often used. Plant species that had the highest use value (UV = 1) were Acorus calamus L., Cocos nucifera L., Curcuma longa L., and Zingiber officinale Roscoe. As many as 37 different ailments were mentioned by communities around Buyan-Tamblingan Lake including rheumatic, heartburn, and headaches.